Cord Blood Directory

The umbilical cord, the source of nutrients and oxygen for babies in the womb, contains stem cells. These immature cells have the potential to grown into other types of cells such as muscle or bone. Stem cells have attracted the attention of researchers as a lifesaving resource for transplantation in patients with leukemia and other conditions. Many parents have banked the blood from their newborns' umbilical cord as a kind of insurance should the need arise for a transplant or other use of stem cells. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about the use of umbilical cord blood, how it is extracted and banked, how cord blood may be used, and much more.